Spies of the American Revolution - 1211 Words

1 Spies of The American Revolution Wendell P. Chase III Armstrong State University Political History of America / Georgia 18 September 2014 2 Spies of The American Revolution Contrary to popular belief, the art of intelligence and counterintelligence is not really all that new to the United States, but goes all the way back to the days of The American Revolution. Had it not been for the bravery of men and women alike, and the utter will to be free from the British rule, our military leaders would not have been so well prepared to engage the enemy and win in decisive battles. Long before the conception of organizations like the National Security Agency (NSA), Federal Bureau of†¦show more content†¦The Culper Spy Ring has also been credited with uncovering information involving the treasonous correspondence between Benedict Arnold and John Andre, chief intelligence officer under General Henry Clinton, commander of the British forces in New York, who were conspiring to give the British control over the army fort at West Point. Major Andre was captured and hung as a spy in October 1780, on Washington’s orders.With military communications coded by intelligence officer Alexander Hamilton. The Continental Congress established numerous secret intelligence committees, including the Secret Committee; which became the Committees of (Secret) Correspondence, chaired by Benjamin Franklin; and the Committee on Spies, charged with the task of purchasing weapons for the revolutionaries abroad. Members of these committees included the likes of John Jay, Th omas Jefferson, John Adams, and Robert Livingston. Initially, Congress directed foreign agents on operations abroad, though after the passing of the Constitution, President Washington took over such activities, using the Congressional exemption that allowed him to keep secret the spending of the president s Secret Service or 5 Spies of The American Revolution contingency fund. Congress had begun appropriating funds for the president s discretionary use in 1790, a tradition that has continued until the present. During the Revolution, Washington s spyShow MoreRelatedSpies Of The American Revolution3251 Words   |  14 PagesHistory Period 4 11/19/14 Spies of the American Revolution The American Revolution and the Revolutionary War was the starting point of America’s journey to become an independent country. The revolution was an aggressive movement to finally be free of Britain once and for all. There were a lot of components in a victory for the Americans: help from foreign countries, strong unity, home field advantage, and spies. Yes, spies. The spies who were in the American Revolution played a crucial role in manyRead MoreGeorge Washington s Secret Six Essay1250 Words   |  5 PagesGeorge Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution, a monograph written by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger, narrates the Culper Spy Ring’s operation in New York City and its contribution toward the American victory over the Great Britain in the American Revolution. Under the order of General George Washington, Major Benjamin Tallmadge established the Culper Spy Ring with the purpose to outspy the British troops’ activities and movements in Manhattan, therefore allowingRead MoreAnalysis : Unsung Hero : James Armistead961 Words   |  4 Pagesimportant yet unsung hero of the American Revolution. Not many Americans have even heard his name and they should. Without him the Americans would have lost the battle of Yorktown which was an important victory for the Americans. In the textbook he only has three sentences on the sidebar (American Nation, p. 187). African-Americans are often overlooked in history due to the racism that has continued even today. James Armistead was a Patriot spy during the American Revolution. He would go on to earn theRead More Womens Roles During Times of War Essay1307 Words   |  6 Pagesschool students learn the names of heroes of various American wars: George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee; but rarely do they learn about the women who helped these heroes: Molly Pitcher, Belle Boyd, and Elizabeth van Lew. Women learned to sacrifice their husbands, sons, brothers, and fathers for the same causes for which these men sacrificed their lives. The first United States war in which women fought was the American Revolution: the war that allowed their country to be formedRead MoreThe Spies Of The Revolution1571 Words   |  7 Pages Spies of the Revolution The American’s and the British had many tactics to solving the enemy’s plans. One way of solving this was hiring Spies. Spies did everything from joining the enemy’s army, to volunteering to go behind enemy lines. Spies would risk anything to get the enemy’s plan. The Spies of the Revolution were very important because they helped figure out enemy plans, were willing to risk it all, and used secret coding to communicate. Spies were not only usedRead MoreHow Spies Affected The Outcome Of The American s And The British Had Many Tactics1694 Words   |  7 PagesPeriod 4 How Spies Affected the Outcome of the Revolution The American’s and the British had many tactics to solving the enemy’s plans. One way of solving this was hiring Spies. Spies did everything from joining the enemy’s army, to volunteering to go behind enemy lines. Spies would risk anything to get the enemy’s plan. The Spies of the Revolution were very important because they helped figure out enemy plans, were willing to risk it all, and used secret coding to communicate. Spies were not onlyRead MoreEssay on Role of Women in the American Revolution619 Words   |  3 PagesRole of Women in the American Revolution The role of women played in any given war is quite often severely underestimated. This sentiment especially goes for the American Revolutionary War, where women actually played an absolutely essential role in our victory against the British. Not only where there different types of women who had helped, but there were many different ways each of them helped--particularly as nurses to help save lives and tend to injured soldiers. Without women helping inRead MoreBook Review over Washingtons Spies Essay1293 Words   |  6 PagesThe Truth About Washington’s Spies Madeline Carlson America’s first spy ring, better known as the Cupler ring, was Washington’s carefully thought out solution to gain intelligence on the overpowering British troops. The revolution was happening; there was no turning back and no denying that America was going to gain independence from Great Britain. Washington needed a plan, a way to foresee what the British planned to do next. Washington’s only solution was to resort to spying. WashingtonRead MoreThe Public Memory Of The American Revolution1367 Words   |  6 Pagesof the American Revolution is filled with men, and dates that have lived in our history since the establishment of the United States of America. Men such as George Washington whose image lives on our most used currency the one dollar bill and the quarter. Dates such as July 4th Independence Day which the country celebrates with massive festivals every year. How then do people like Crispus Attucks, Haym Salomon, Nathan Hale, and George Hewes become part of the public memory for the American RevolutionRead MoreWomen s Roles During The 19th Century1448 Words   |  6 Pagesaccountable for taking care of children, making dinner for her husband, and throwing lavish parties that others envied. When the American Revolution began in 1765, women s roles began to change drastically. Men had to fight against the British, so women left the safety and security of their traditional roles to serve their c ountry, and perform their usual duties. During the Revolution, women were given roles in the military as â€Å"camp followers†, snuck into the army disguised as a man, and some women established